Town comparison
Shrewsbury vs Telford
Which is better to live in? 12.2 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Telford offers lower property prices by roughly 35%. Shrewsbury has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Shrewsbury edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Shrewsbury
£331,262
Telford
£246,018
Crime Rate
Shrewsbury
48.2
Telford
74.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Shrewsbury
81.2%
Telford
77.5%
Avg Download Speed
Shrewsbury
417.7
Telford
416.9
EPC Rating
Shrewsbury
69.1
Telford
75.1
Median Income
Shrewsbury
£29,576
Telford
£29,745
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in West MidlandsBuyers will find Telford more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £246,018 versus £331,262 in Shrewsbury. The most affordable entry point in Shrewsbury is a flat at £186,442, while in Telford it is a flat at £107,403.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 74% pricier in Shrewsbury (£186,442 vs £107,403).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Telford prices grew faster — 48% vs 28%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in West MidlandsCrime is lower in Shrewsbury (48.2 per 1,000) compared to Telford (74.9 per 1,000), a 55% difference. The most common crime category in Shrewsbury is violent-crime, while in Telford it is violent-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Both towns share the same top crime category: violent crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in West MidlandsSchool quality favours Shrewsbury: 81.2% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 77.5% in Telford.
Shrewsbury School Inspection Breakdown
81.2% of 24 schools (20 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Telford School Inspection Breakdown
77.5% of 53 schools (43 primary, 10 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Shrewsbury | Telford |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 24 | 53 |
| Primary | 20 | 43 |
| Secondary | 4 | 10 |
| % Top two bands | 81.2% | 77.5% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Shrewsbury enjoy 417.7 Mbps on average, while Telford lags behind at 416.9 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93.7% of premises in Shrewsbury and 98% in Telford. Gigabit availability stands at 77.3% in Shrewsbury and 76% in Telford.
Shrewsbury is the faster of the two by 0% on average download speed (418 vs 417 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Telford is band C (score 75.1), ahead of Shrewsbury's band C (score 69.1). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,405 in Shrewsbury and £1,005 in Telford. 59.2% of homes in Shrewsbury have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 78.1% in Telford.
Telford has more energy-efficient housing — 78.1% reach band C or above, vs 59.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Shrewsbury has a population of 75,784 while Telford has 156,326. Median household income is £29,745 in Telford and £29,576 in Shrewsbury. The median age is 48.1 in Shrewsbury and 41.5 in Telford. Employment rates stand at 56% in Shrewsbury and 57.5% in Telford.
| Indicator | Shrewsbury | Telford |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 75,784 | 156,326 |
| Median Age | 48.1 | 41.5 |
| Median Household Income | £29,576 | £29,745 |
| Employment Rate | 56% | 57.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.6% | 59.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.5% | 26.1% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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